Clutch control mechanism



y 1937- H. w. PRICE ET AL 2,086,576

CLUTCH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed NOV. 2'7, 1931 INVEN TOR. HHRULD W 1 /7/55 BY 57/?! A PAY/[E ATTOR 15y I Patented July 13, 1937 CLUTCH CONTROL MECHANISM Harold W. Price and Earl R. Price, South Bend, Ind., assignors to .Bendix Aviation Corporation,

South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application November 27, 1931, Serial No. 577,660

14 Clainfs.

This invention relates to power operated clutch controlling mechanism for the standard clutch of an automotive vehicle, such mechanism being designed to supplant the manual operation of the clutch and to accurately simulate such manual operation.

The principal object of the invention is to provide, in a vacuum operated clutch controlling mechanism, means for regulating the disengagement and engagement of the clutch. More specifically, it is the object of the inventionto provide valve means, so controlling the influx and efliux of air to and from the motor of the mechanism, as to insure, at the proper time, a rapid disengagement of the clutch and, what is more important, to provide fortwo stages or phases of clutch plate movement in the'engagement of the clutch. The total elapsed time in eifecting the engagement of the clutch is thus reduced to a minimum, the first H of the aforementioned stages of movement being quite: rapid and the latter stage appreciably slower to permit the clutch plates to engage without shock.

Yet another object ofthe. invention is to pro vide electrical means, operable at a predetermined position in the throw of the clutch pedal, to operate a valve, and which valve serves to both initiate and terminate the rapid first stage of clutch plate movement.

A further object is to provide a check valve positioned in a shunt or by-pass fluid transmitting circuit, said Valve being operable to insure a disengaging movement of the driving clutch plate prior to the opening of said electrically operated valve.

a further objectof the invention is to provide, in conjunction with said aforementioned -elec trically operated valve, a fluid operated automatically operable valve, which valve is operable to 40 a degree which is a function of the manifold vacuum and serves to control the last or clutch plate contacting stage of clutch plate movement.

Another object of the invention is to variably determine the maximum operation of the aforementioned automatically operated valve in accordance with the gear ratio setting of the change speed transmission mechanism to thus predetermine a maximum rate of clutch plate engaging movement for each gear setting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a second by-pass or shunt circuit interconnecting the source of vacuum, preferably the aforementioned manifold of the internal-combustion engine, with the aforementioned fluid motor, said circuit to provide an unimpeded fluid transmitting or bleed connection to compensate for leakage in the motor and also facilitate control of the clutch engaging operation of said motor.

Other objects of the invention and desirable details of construction and combinations of parts will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which description is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the clutch controlling mechanism constituting the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional -view' through the automatic bleed valve for controlling the second stage of clutch engagement;

Figure 3 discloses, in section, the two-way cutoil valve and the solenoid operating means therefor; and

Figure 4 discloses, in longitudinal section, the

ion as to accurately simulate the conventional manual operation of the pedal.

The motor preferably comprises a cylinder l4, pivotally secured to the chassis, and a reciprocable piston l6, the latter being connected, by rod I 3, to the clutch pedal Ill. The cylinder is connected, by interconnected flexible conduits 2D, 22 and 24, with an intake manifold 26 of the internal-combustiomengine of the vehicle. An accelerator operated three-way valve 28, forming the subject matter of Patent No. 2,041,475, issued May 19, 1936, to Victor W. Kliesrath, is incorporated in the conduit 22 and serves, to an appreciable degree, to control the operation of the motor. i

An accelerator pedal 30 is connected to an engine throttle 32, by a rod 34, there being a degree'of lost motion at 36 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. -The three-way valve 28, detailed in Figure 4, preferably comprises a cas-- ing 38, provided with ports 40, registering with the portions of the conduit 22, and also provided with atmospheric ports 42. A spring pressed valve plunger 44 having a recess 46 is actuated by a flexible connection 48, the latter connected to an arm 50 rigidly secured to the accelerator or throttle rod 34.

Atwo-way cut-off valve 52 comprising a casing 5 and a rotatable recessed member 56, is incorporated in the conduit 24 and is" adapted to be actuated by a spring 58 and by a solenoid 65. The solenoid is energized, to close the valve, by the closing of a clutch pedal operated switch 62. The spring 58 serves to open the valve, to intercommunicate the motor and manifold, when and if the solenoid is deenergized with the opening of the pedal switch.

The invention further includes the incorporation of a check valve 68, incorporated in a bypass or shunt circuit comprising conduit sections 66, 6'8 and 68, and which valve serves to insure operation of the motor as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

A further feature of the invention resides inthe' provision of an automatically operated clutch controlling bleed valve 10, the details of which are not claimed herein inasmuch as the same forms the subject matter of our copending application Serial No. 577,659 filed concurrently herewith, and of our divisional application Serial No. 121,047, filed January 18, 1937. Briefly, this valve, shown in detail in Figure 2, comprises a casing 12, provided with ports l4 and i6 receiving, conduit sections 18 and 80, said sections being connected, respectively, to the conduit 22 and to the aforementioned shunt conduit 68. A spool-shaped valve member 82 is adapted to be reciprocated in a bore of the casing 12 to register one or more of a plurality of set screw adby three factors; namely, the manifold vacuum within the'compartment in the casing 12 above the upper end of the valve, the atmosphere acting upon the lower end of the valve, anda return spring 85 interposed between the headed end of a valve stem 85 and the casing 12. 82 in its upward position at closed throttle closes off the port 16 without, however, covering up the communication between the conduit 18 and ducts 86, the strength of the return spring 85 acting on the piston valve 82 being calibrated to effect this position of the valve when th clutch is disengaged. This position of the valve is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and insures the afore mentioned unimpeded connection between the manifold and motor. The valve casing 12 is also provided with right-angularly extending ducts 86 providing a supplementary or by-pass connection betweenthe conduits 18 and 80, the rate of air flow via the ducts being adjustable by means of a set screw 88 and also by the degree of pressure within the manifold determined by the mode of throttle operation. Thusducts'86 provide a permanent connection with the manifold,-.-facilitating the control of the clutch engagement as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The remaining structural feature of th invention comprises a cam 90, operable bya connection 92 with a conventional transmission or gear shift lever 94, and which is operative, to determine the completely released position of the spool valve member 82, in accordance with the transmission gear setting. Thus we may, as disclosed diagrammatically in Figure 2, have three settings of the valve member, one forlow and reverse gear, one for second gear and one for the high gear setting of the transmission.

Referring now to the operation of the described structure, the parts are shown in their clutch engaged and engine inoperative position in the The valve several figures of the drawing: thus the accel-" immediately serves, by virtue of the then established differential of pressure, to move the spool valve member 82 to the dotted line or closed position, Figure 2, cutting ofi port 16 to insure a disengagement of the clutch, and also to evacuate the motor via the conduit 22, valve 28, conduit 66, check valve 66 and conduits 61, 68 and 20. The weight of the atmosphere acting on the outer end of the piston i6 then effects a disengagement of the clutch, moving the pedal and piston to the dotted line positions of Figure 1. The switch 52 is opened, 'afterthe pedal has moved a relatively short distance, thereby perF mitting the spring 58 to open the cut-out valve 52 and more effectively evacuate the motor to disengage the clutch.

The transmission is'then placed in low gear preparatory to starting the car, predetermining the'position of the cam member 9!] controlled by said transmission.

The accelerator pedal 30 is now actuated, first closing the three-way valve 28 by registering lower port 40 and ports 42, and then opening the throttle to speed up the engine. With the venting of the motor, via the three-way valve, open cut-out valve 52 and interconnected conduits, the

pistonand connected clutch pedal move relatively 1 rapidly to engage the clutch, this by virtue'of the relatively rapid influx of air to the motor. However, when the clutch pedal reaches a position just prior to the actual contacting of the driving and driven clutch plates, the switch 62 is closed to cut off the aforementioned influx of air via the three-way valve 28. Thereafter the air is bled into the motor via the openings 84 in the bleed valve 10, the degree of said air bleed being a function of the manifold vacuum which controls the position of'the spool member 82 and also a function of the transmission setting which determines the maximum rate of bleed for a given transmission setting. Air is also bled into the motor from the manifold via the ducts 86 in the bleed valve, the rate of influx of air from this source being a function of the degree of manifold vacuum as determined by the control of the throttle, It will also be appreciated that should the accelerator be depressed only sufiiciently to Should the accelerator be held in this. clutch arrested position for any appreciable time, the' permanent vacuum connection with the fluid r-otor l2 via the ducts 86 and conduits 18 will result in a sufficient evacuation of the motor to again disengage the clutch. However, if the clutch is disengaged to thepointof breaking the switch 62, then the valve 52 will be again operated to connect the motor to the atmosphere via the valve 28 and the' clutch will be reengaged. This oscillating or so-called,hunting action at the clutch engaging 'point'will continue indefinitely, should the accelerator remain in the aforementioned partially open position.

Upon continued depression of the accelerator, however, the throttle is opened as described above to open one or more of the bleed ports at and initiate a completion of the engagement of the clutch at a rate determined by the degree and/or mode o; throttle manipulation. In maneuvering the car from a parked position, it is often necessary to slip the clutch and very carefully control its engagement. This may be accomplished with the mechanism of the invention, inasmuch as the accelerator may be released to a point where the air evacuated from the clutch motor via the ducts 86 just balances the influx of air to the motor via the bleed ,ports 84, thus maintaining the clutch engaged at a fixed point or constant load: with further release of the accelerator to completely close the throttle without operation of the valve 28, the aforementioned arrest point may again be found. Thus it is obvious that with careful manipulation of the accelerator the clutch may be successively engaged and released at will to facilitate maneuvering of the vehicle. The mode of clutch engagement is controlled completely by the mode of operation of. the accelerator.

There is thus provided a power operated mechanism, automatic in its action, which accurately simulates a manual control of the clutch. The automatic operation 01 the bleed valve insures a rate of clutch' plate contacting movement in accordance withthe mode of operation of the engine throttle and the additional control of the bleed valve by the transmission setting provide a checkupon the operation of said valve, which, in a measure, renders the mechanism fool-proof. While one illustrative embodiment has been described, it is not our intention to limit the scope of the invention to that particular embbdlment, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims. 1

We claim: L 1. In an automotive vehicle provided with an internal-combustion engine and a clutch, an engine operated power means for operating said clutch, and means for controlling the operation of said power means, including successively operable electrically and pneumatically operated valves providing two distinct phases in the clutch engaging operation of said means.

2. An automotive vehicle providedwith an internal-combustion engine and a clutch, and vacuum operated means for operating said clutch, said means including a single-ended fluid motor,

, fluid transmitting connections between said motor and engine and a three-way control valve for said motor incorporated in said connections, said connections iurther'including successively operable electrically and pneumatically operated valves providing two distinct phases in the clutch engaging operation of said means.

3. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle having an internal-combustion engine and a clutch, said erated and the remaining valve being electrically operated by a solenoid.

4. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle having an internal-combustion engine and a clutclnsaidmechanism including a fluid motor, a force transmitting connection between said motor and clutch and fluid transmitting connections between the intake manifold of said engine and said motor, said latter connections including a three-way control .valve for said motor and further including three valves for controlling the mode of engagement of the clutch, two of said valves being automatically operated by vacuum and the remaining valve being electrically operated by a solergoid, together with means, operable by the transmission, for determining the mode of operation of one of said vacuum operated valves.

5. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle provided with an intake manifold and a clutch pedal, said mechanism including a fluid motor, an operative connection between said motor and clutch pedal and. a fluid transmitting connection between said motor and manifold, a three-way control valve incorporated in said connection, means for controlling the clutch engaging operation of said motor, said means including a two-way cut-off valve also incorporated in said connection, and means, operable by the clutch pedal, for operating said two-way valve.

6. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle provided with an intake manifold and a clutch pedal, said mechanism including a fluid motor, an operative connection between said motor and clutch pedal and a fluid transmitting connection between said motor and manifold, a three-way control valve anism for an automotive vehicle provided with an intake manifold,'a throttle, an accelerator pedal, a connection between said pedal and throttle, and a clutch pedal, said mechanism' including a fluid motor, a mechanical connection between said motor and clutch and a fluid transmitting connection between said motor and manifold, an accelerator operated three-way control valve incorporated in said fluid transmitting connection, means for controlling the clutchengaging operation of said motor, said means including a two-way cut-oil valve also incorporated in said connection, and means, operable by the clutch pedal, for operating said two-way valve to, in a measure, control the clutch engaging operation oi said motor.

8. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle provided with an intake manifold and a clutch pedal, said mechanism including a fluid motor, an operative connection between I said motor and clutch pedal, and fluid transmitting connections between said motor and manifold, a three-way control valve incorporated in said connections,

and means for controllingv theclutch engaging operation of said motor, said means comprising a valve, operative to cut of! communication between said manifold and motor, via said valve,

when the clutch pedal is released, and further operative to maintain communication between the manifold and motor, via said valve, when the clutch pedal is depressed and throughout a portion of the stroke of the clutch pedal as it moves toward its clutch engaged position, and other valve means, incorporated in said connections and operative to maintain communication between the manifold and motor, via said valve means, when the motor is being energized to disengage the clutch, and further operative to cut ofi-communication between said manifold and motor, via said'valve means, when the motor is being deenergized to engage the clutch.

9. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle provided with an intake manifold and a clutch pedal, said mechanism including a' fluid motor, an operative connection between said Imotorand clutch pedal, and fluid transmitting connections between said motor and manifold, a three-way control valve incorporated in /said connections, and means for controlling the clutch engaging operation of said motor, said means comprising a valve, operative to cut ofi communication between said manifold and motor, via said valve,

when the clutch pedal is released, and further operative to maintain communication between the manifold and motor, via said valve, when the clutch pedaiis depressed and throughout a portion of the stroke of the clutch pedal as it moves toward its clutch engaged position, and other valve means incorporated in said connections and operative to maintain communication between the manifold and motor, via said valve means, when the motor is being energized to disengage the clutch, and further operative to cut off communication between said manifold and motor, via said valve means, when the motor is being deenergized to engage the ,clutch, together with still other valve means ifold, a three-way control valve incorporated in said'connection, a second fluid transmitting connection interconnecting said motor and manifold and by-passing said control valve during the operation of the latter to effect an engagement of the clutch whereby there is provided a means, other than said control valve, for increasing the gaseous pressure within said rn'otor to effect an engagement of the clutch and thereby to, in part, control said engagement in accordance with the degree of manifold vacuum.

11. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for" an automotive vehicle provided with an internal-combustion engine and a clutch, said engine provided with an intake manifold, a vacuum operated fluid motor operatively connected with the clutch, a fluid transmitting connection interconnecting the motor and the manifold, a three-way control valve incorporated in said connection, a second fluid transmitting connection engagement of the clutch and thereby to, in

part, control said engagement in accordance with the degree of manifold vacuum, together with a valve incorporated in said second fluid transmitting connection, said valve being also ,operative to control the degree of gaseous pressure within the motor to control its clutch engaging operation.-

12. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle provided with an internal-combustion engine and a clutch, said engine provided with an intake manifold, a vacuum operated fluid motor operably connected with said clutch, a fluid transmitting connection interconnecting one end"of said motor with the manifold, a three-way control valve incorporated in said connection, and a second unimpeded but restricted fluid transmitting connection interconnecting said manifold and motor whereby there is-provided'means for both compensating for leakage into said vacuum operated motor when the latter is energized to disengage the clutch and for, in part, controlling the clutch. engaging operation of said motor in acco fdance with the degree of manifold vacuum.

13. In a vacuum operated clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle provided with an internal-combustion engine and a clutch, said engine provided withan intake manifold, a vacuum operated fluid motor operably connected with said clutch, fluid transmitting connections interconnecting said manifold and motor, said connections including a valve automatically operative by and inaccordance with the manifold vacuum to control the mode of clutch engaging operation oi said motor, together with manually operablestop means selectively operable by the driver to regulate the operation of said automatically operable valve.

14. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and an intake manifold, a single-ended pressure differential operated motor operably connected to said clutch, fluid transmitting connections interconnecting said manifold and motor, said connections including an unimpeded connection to provide means maintaining a constant communication between the manifold and motor, and control valve means for said motor incorporated in said fluid transmitting connections, said unimpeded connection by-passing the connections in which said control valve means is incorporated. H

HAROLD W. PRICE. EARL R. PRICE. 

